Multilayer pressure vessel

ABSTRACT

A vessel is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart layers which contain fluid fill and closure means comprising a plurality of layers which are integrally formed with the layers of the pressure vessel. The fluid fill between the layers of the pressure vessel extends into and between closure layers, such that the fluid fill can be maintained under uniform pressure in each layer.

@tates atem Herman [15] seems [54] MULTILAYER PRESSURE VESSEL [72]Inventor: Irwin Berman, Bronx, N.Y.

211 Appl. No: 886,503

[52] US. Cl ..220/3, 220/83, 220/9, 220/39 [51] lint. Cl. ..lB65d 7/22,B65d 7/40 [58] Field ofSeerch ..23/289, 290; 220/3, 83,9, 220/13, 63, 39

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,459 1 1/1966 Wilson220/3 3,443,631 5/1969 Bremer et a1. ..220/13 X 3,489,309 1/1970 Bermanet al ..220/3 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 472,059 2/1929 Germany..220/ 3 Primary Examiner-Raphael H. Schwartz Attorney-John E. Wilson,John Maier, 111 and Marvin A. Naigur [5 7] ABSTRACT A vessel is providedwith a plurality of spaced-apart layers which contain fluid fill andclosure means comprising a plurality of layers which are integrallyformed with the layers of the pressure vessel. The fluid fill betweenthe layers of the pressure vessel extends into and between closurelayers, such that the fluid fill can be maintained under uniformpressure in each layer.

4 Cl, 1 Drawing Figure MULTILAYER PRESSURE VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In the construction of pressure vessels for maintainingrelatively high pressures in the range of 200,000 lbs. psi. and greater,a large number of failures have been experienced in single-layervessels. It has been found that the high pressure within a single-layervessel results in material along the inner surface of the vesselbecoming highly stressed. Accordingly, the internal stress patternwithin a single-layer pressure vessel causes the material within thevessel to experience excessive yield or fracture. By providing anuninterrupted multilayer pressure vessel and multilayer closure, it ispossible to prevent excessive yield and/or fracture to the vessel andclosure by maintaining layers of fluid fill under pressure. I

In the design of multilayer pressure vessels, it is necessary to have acapability of withstanding extremely high pressures at the closurewithout causing rupture. Previous multilayer pres sure vessels haveutilized closures which do not contain multilayers at the closures,which resulted in a sharp change toward zero displacement at theclosure, thereby creating a large shearing force. The present inventionaffords substantially constant displacement at the closure, such thatthe incidence of rupture is greatly reduced.

A further advantage afforded by the instant invention is the ability toeasily remove the material within the vessel after it has been subjectedto pressurization. Accordingly, with the present invention, it ispossible to remove the outermost closures to obtain access to thepressurized material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an illustrative embodimentdemonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there isprovided a pressure vessel adapted to be surrounded by at least onelayer of fluid fill comprising an inner vessel wall defining an innerchamber for maintaining a fluid under pressure. At least one outervessel wall, spaced apart from the inner vessel wall defines at leastone vessel channel which is adapted to contain the fluid fill. Means areprovided fro pressurizing the fluid fill in the vessel channel. Theinner vessel wall includes an inner closure and inner body section, withthe inner closure being removably secured to the inner body section. Theouter vessel wall includes an outer closure and an outer body section,with the outer closure being removably secured to the outer bodysection. Thus, the displacement caused by the fluid under pressure tothe inner vessel wall and the outer vessel wall is substantiallyconstant in situ of the inner closure and outer closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above brief description, as well asfurther objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbe more fully appreciated by reference to the following detaileddescription of a presently preferred but nonetheless illustrativeembodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown asectional view of a combined multilayer pressure vessel and closure ofthe instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing,there is provided a pressure vessel generally designated 10. An innerwall 12 of a substantially elongated spherically shaped configurationdefines an inner chamber 14 having an open end 16 for receiving andmaintaining a fluid under a relatively high pressure. The directionalarrow 18 schematically shows the means for maintaining the fluid underpressure in the inner vessel chamber 14.

An intermediate wall 20 having an open end 22 is provided for coaxiallyreceiving the inner wall 12, with its outer surface 24 being coextensivewith and spaced apart from the inner surface 26 of intermediate wall 20to define an inner vessel channel 28 for receiving a layer of fluid fillF. It is preferable to utilize fluids which do not freeze under highpressure, such as kerosene, petroleum, ether or mixtures of iso andnormal pentanes for the fluid fill F.

An outer wall 30, having an open end 32, is provided for coaxiallyreceiving the intermediate wall 20 with its outer surface 3 3 beingcoextensive and spaced apart from the inner surface 36 of outer wall 30to define an outer vessel channel 38 for receiving a layer of fluid fillF.

The inner wall 12, intermediate wall 20 and outer wall 30 are eachcomprised of an essentially hemispherical removable closure, generallydesignated 40, cylindrical sleeve 41 and the necked-down section 42. Thehemispherical closures 40 include an inner closure head 43, intermediateclosure head 44, and an outer closure head 45 which are joined andsealed to each of the cylindrical sleeves M by mans of internal helicalthreads 46 and annular gaskets 47. Each of the necked-down sections 42is joined to each of the cylindrical sleeves 41 by means of a filletweld 48. Thus, it can be appreciated that after the pressurization cycleof the vessel it) has been completed, it is possible to threadablydisengage, first the outer closure head 45, then the intermediateclosure head 44, and lastly the inner closure head 43, in order toremove the contents from the inner chamber 14.

Mounted along the open end 16 of inner chamber 14 is an inner flangesection 50 which is formed with a central bore 52 in flow communicationwith the pressure means 18 and inner chamber 14. An intermediate flange54 is mounted along the open end 22 of intermediate wall 20, with itsinner surface 56 being coextensive with and spaced apart from the outersurface 58 of inner flange section 50, to define an inner channel 60 inflow communication with the inner vessel channel 28.

An outer flange section 62 is mounted along the open end 32 of outerwall 30 with its inner surface 64 being coextensive with and spacedapart from the outer surface 66 of intermediate flange 54 to form anouter closure channel 68.

The flange sections 50, 54 and 62 are each integrally formed with ahollow cylindrical shank 70 and annular shoulder 72. The cylindricalshanks 70 are mounted on the necked-down sections 42 by means of filletwelds 74.

The layers of fluid fill F, which extend from inner vessel channel 28 toinner closure channel 60 and from outer vessel channel 38 to outerclosure channel 68, are pressurized through hollow tubing 76 which issecured to the annular shoulders 72. Means for pressurizing the fluidfill F are shown schematically by directional arrows which aredesignated 78 and means for venting the fluid fill are shownschematically by directional arrows, designated 80.

It should be understood that in accordance with the present invention,the displacement to inner wall 12, intermediate wall 20, and outer wall30 caused by the fluid fill F under pressure is substantially constantacross each of the closures 40 and it is possible to remove the closures40, to extract the material within inner chamber M, after thepressurization cycle has been completed.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

lclaim:

l. A pressure vessel adapted to be surrounded by at least one layer offluid fill comprising an inner vessel wall defining an inner chamberopen at one end for maintaining a fluid under pressure,

at least one outer vessel wall, spaced apart from said inner vesselwall, defining at least one vessel channel adapted to contain said fluidfill,

means for pressurizing said fluid fill in said vessel channel,

said inner vessel wall including an inner closure and inner bodysection, with said inner closure being removably secured to said innerbody section,

said outer vessel wall including an outer closure and an outer bodysection, with said outer closure being removably secured to said outerbody section, and

external threads formed on said inner closure and said outer closure,and internal threads formed on said inner body section and said outerbody section, such that said inner closure can be threadably engagedwith said inner body section and said outer closure can be threadablyengaged with said outer body section,

whereby the displacement caused by said fluid fill under pressure tosaid inner vessel wall and outer vessel wall is substantially constantin situ of said inner closure and outer closure.

2. A pressure vessel according to claim ii in which an inner gasket ispositioned between said inner closure and inner body section, and anouter gasket is positioned between said outer closure and said outerbody section.

3. A pressure vessel adapted to be surrounded by at least one layer offluid fill comprising body section, with said inner closure beingremovably secured to said inner body section,

said intermediate vessel wall including an intermediate closure andintermediate body section, with said intermediate closure beingremovably secured to said intermediate body section said outer vesselwall including an outer closure and an outer body section, with saidouter closure being removably secured to said outer body section, and

external threads formed on said inner closure, intermediate closure andsaid outer closure, and internal threads formed on said inner bodysection, intermediate body section, and said outer body section, suchthat said inner closure can be threadably engaged with said inner bodysection, said intermediate closure can be threadably engaged with saidintermediate body section, and said outer closure can be threadablyengaged with said outer body section,

whereby the displacement caused by said fluid fill under pressure tosaid inner vessel wall, intermediate vessel wall, and outer vessel wallis substantially constant in situ of the enclosures.

4. A pressure vessel according to claim 1 in which an inner gasket ispositioned between said inner closure and inner body section, anintermediate gasket is positioned between said intermediate closure andintermediate body section, and an outer gasket is positioned betweensaid outer closure and said outer body section.

1. A pressure vessel adapted to be surrounded by at least one layer of fluid fill comprising an inner vessel wall defining an inner chamber open at one end for maintaining a fluid under pressure, at least one outer vessel wall, spaced apart from said inner vessel wall, defining at least one vessel channel adapted to contain said fluid fill, means for pressurizing said fluid fill in said vessel channel, said inner vessel wall including an inner closure and inner body section, with said inner closure being removably secured to said inner body section, said outer vessel wall including an outer closure and an outer body section, with said outer closure being removably secured to said outer body section, and external threads formed on said inner closure and said outer closure, and internal threads formed on said inner body section and said outer body section, such that said inner closure can be threadably engaged with said inner body section and said outer closure can be threadably engaged with said outer body section, whereby the displacement caused by said fluid fill under pressure to said inner vessel wall and outer vessel wall is substantially constant in situ of said inner closure and outer closure.
 2. A pressure vessel according to claim 1 in which an inner gasket is positioned between said inner closure and inner body section, and an outer gasket is positioned between said outer closure and said outer body section.
 3. A pressure vessel adapted to be surrounded by at least one layer of fluid fill comprising an inner vessel wall defining an inner chamber open at one end for maintaining a fluid under pressure, an intermediate vessel wall, spaced apart from said inner vessel wall, defining an inner vessel channel adapted to contain said fluid fill, an outer vessel wall, spaced apart from said intermediate vessel wall, defining an outer vessel channel adapted to contain said fluid fill, means for pressurizing said fluid fill in said inner vessel channel and said outer vessel channel, said inner vessel wall including an inner closure and inner body section, with said inner closure being removably secured to said inner body section, said intermediate vessel wall including an intermediate closure and intermediate body section, with said intermediate closure being removably secured to said intermediate body section said outer vessel wall including an outer closure and an outer body section, with said outer closure being removably secured to said outer body section, and external threads formed on said inner closure, intermediate closure and said outer closure, and internal threads formed on said inner body section, intermediate body section, and said outer body section, such that said inner closure can be threadably engaged with said inner body section, said intermediate closure can be threadably engaged with said intermediate body section, and said outer closure can be threadably engaged with said outer body section, whereby the displacement caused by said fluid fill under pressure to said inner vessel wall, intermediate vessel wall, and outer vessel wall is substantially constant in situ of the enclosures.
 4. A pressure vessel according to claim 1 in which an inner gasket is positioned between said inner closure and inner body section, an intermediate gasket is positioned between said intermediate closure and intermediate body section, and an outer gasket is positioned between said outer closure and said outer body section. 